Jerusalem – In the wake of the expiration of the law exempting ultra-Orthodox yeshiva students from the draft, arrest warrants are now being issued for Haredi teenagers who have failed to comply with IDF draft notices.
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The TIMES OF ISRAEL (http://bit.ly/15zNc59) however, reports that IDF sources have told the Maariv that the army does not expect police will enforce the warrants.
The warrants are being viewed as the first tangible consequences for ultra-Orthodox students failing to comply with the new universal draft mandate.
The 10 year-old Tal Law, allowing full-time yeshiva students to defer army or national service, was declared ‘unconstitutional’ by israel’s High Court of Justice in Feb. 2012.
Since the ruling, some ultra-Orthodox teens have honored draft notices and reported to IDF induction centers. But more teens have refused, some even stating they would rather go to jail than serve in the military.
The issue of a replacement law is a hot-button issue in talks leading up to the formation of a new government.
Ultra-Orthodox parties are agreeable only to a minor change in the old law, while Yair Lapid’s Yesh Atid party continues to demand an ‘equal share of the burden’ from Haredi teens through service either in the military or civil service.
Despite the Maariv report that the IDF believes the warrants will not not be enforced, rumors are circulating throughout the Haredi community that mass arrests may be forthcoming after the Passover holiday next month.
Mind boggling. Why woud the army want 50-100 thousand soldiers who will follow their rosh yeshiva over their commanders.
The govt is playing chicken. They’re going to see how many they fan arrest without plunging the whole country into chaos. That number might be one.
On the other hand, this might be a brilliant move by Netanyahu to put Lapid in his place and show him that his plan won’t work.
Well, this ought to be an interesting test of power.
Just trying to understand, how is this different from drafts throughout the ages and why did religious Jews not fight then? They just followed orders understanding they are in golus. Of course they tried to get out of it, but not through defiance.
Liberty is not lost on intangible superficial demands.
Chezkiahu HaMelech had ARMED GUARDS at the doors of the yeshivas to keep students from LEAVING. How about we move things in THAT direction!
What exactly does being arrested accomplish? It just creates a chilul hashem with no benefit.
The chief rabbinate should be negotiating with the lawmakers to come up with a compromise- let us learn for four years or something like that. Aren’t there already university exemptions? At least offer us that much!
there is more to come, all leave now!
please explain to me why you all think that your blood is better than ours? We lay our lives on the line to defend the Jews of Israel. Are your lives worth more than ours or are you all just a bunch of selfish cowards?
I think it would help if the Yeshivas would start by saying a mishebayrach every Shabbos for our brothers fighting OUR wars, and doing their share in protecting the Jewish people. We ARE sharing the burden. While they protect the Jewish nation on the ground it is only through our spritual share that we are protected from the heavens. Maybe even pair up a Yeshiva A with a Brigade A and have a true partnership. One parter will learn Torah and daven b’zichus that that the other should be successful in our security. If something goes wrong, obviously we BOTH have both shirked our resposibilities and we are both at fault. Whenever there is a hardship, don’t we all daven and learn more for our BROTHERS on the battlefield anyway. If we can explain our learning as a necessity for our security and partake in the resposiblity (by learning extra, davening more, saying a mi’shebayrach, calling our partners on the field to see how they are faring) in such a way the other side will accept, we can have a real partnership and “share the burden” and make a few more baalei teshuva along the way.
Let them try arresting thousands of Chareidim. It’s good thing. Now we religious yidden will see who these secular zionists really are. Arabs have a free ride. Only Arabs who kill Jews end up in jail but not forever because they get exchanged every few years for captured Israelis. But Chareidim will sit in jail. We should not join any army as long as they spit on our Torah by allowing gay parades,chillul Shabbos in public and tattoo shops all over Israel.
This draft is particularly terrible because never before has a “Jewish” government taken Jews away from learning with the main goal of destroying their religion.
We have all seen pictures of our religious soldiers in israel having tefillin on with the sunrise. We have seen them at the kosel with their rifles on their backs.I feel that if you want to live in the settlements; above the green lines, and other dangerous territories, you should be trained. Do not wait for a miracle to protect you. Aim the rifle AND say tehillim. Someone comes to kill you, you kill them first.
Why should Chareidim join an army that represents a racist government that hates Torah. They don’t allow Chareidim in the government or supreme court. They have for years trying to destroy the Torah lifestyle of sfardic and Yemenite Jews. They have tried to corrupt Chareidi youth in different ways but this will be a long hat summer. Now we Chareidim will organize street protests worldwide and show them who these enemies are. We have the power. Here in America we will outvote politicians who support Israel and you will see how fast the secular government Chareidi haters will run to us. We demand fifty per cent of American aid go to Chareidi yeshivas as we have procured these funds through our votes.
Nobody here has mention part of the problem is woman mixing with man in the army, in training and in living quarters, kashrus, and unnecessary manoeuvres on Shabbos for no reason than to Mahullel Shabbos
Once again I say. When chilonim- teen till 30-attend yishiva on weekends. charaydim of the same age will attend the army for weekend duty. Guaranteed!! THAT is a fair compromise!
Jews are not the funny papers souls. We have a nation and a world to work with and support. Lets forget the idea that we are the only way that the future is built by only being in a yeshiva for our whole life and get out and paint the world a new color of grey and white. Our souls depend on Hashem and we serve him by doing our duty to our people. America is a good place to go if you do not want to serve in the IDF. Make your life choices.
The Israeli government is full of clueless people desperate for media attention. They won’t get their way, and they know it.
Why should any normal Jew want to join the Israeli army if they are giving back land all the time as well as knocking down Jewish homes and allowing tons of illegal Arab homes to stand. What did they do to the poor suckers of gush Katif. Their children fought in the army and they threw them out like dogs. You can not trust these secular selfish Israeli politicos. They want to use Chareidim like dogs just as they mistreat the misnachlim crowd. We won’t allow it. We here in America will threaten the secular Israeli leadership that we will cut your funds if you cut the yeshiva boys funds. We demand they increase the funding for the yeshivas. With no yeshivas there are no Jewish people. Sporting tattoos,men wearing earrings and looking like low life westerners is not the way we want our youth to look in Israel. The army is very unreliable with Torah laws. There goal is to turn the Chareidi youth into secular street bums. It won’t happen because we shall overcome.
Let’s say that there COULD be some arrangement, which wouldbe considered not conflicting with the right chinuch, the fact that it is being done this way, at this time, i feel that EVERY RELIGOUS JEW MUST NOW BOYCOTT THE ARMY SERVICE A-Z. It is a gezeira for destruction of jewish life, and on principle it should be opposed in every way possible and international outcries etc, and bizyonos whenever netanyahu travels abroad. Until they show a little respect for religous values of those who try to be a little better.
This isnt Israel in the early years. Its eretz yisroel now. Things have changed dramatically. the language used by extremists on both sides is disgusting. Not to excuse the secular but a learned jew should know better. otherwise whats the purpose of learning Torah.
Just because chareidim yell that the IDF serves whatever …….or forces shabbos to be desecrated needlesly doesnt make it so. What we do see is the army trying to accomodate… eg. nachal chareidi and as a bonus this training ultimately help those chareidim to help themselves. or is this a problem ?
Stop bashing the many shomer shabbos army boys that protect us all .we find it repulsive. they are our children and your brothers. how about putting in a good word for them.
Pls keep minor indiscretions …………… in proper perspective. after all it is any army of yidden.. each nishama is kodesh.
Maybe showing some hakoras hatov to your brothers, that put there lives on the line would diffuse some of the anger.
Saying thank you for all the millions given to chareidim and their institutions would go a long way.too . Its true others also get money but this is no reason to not say thank you.